90-DEGREES- DOMAIN REVERSAL IN PB(ZRXTI1-X)O-3 CERAMICS

In this study, a simple and direct method has been proposed, which can to be used for quantitatively distinguishing the mechanisms of domain reorientation processes in polycrystalline materials. By using this m ethod, the 90 degrees - domain reorientation in the Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 cer amic under the electric field was examined through the X-ray diffracti on analysis. It was found that the polarization switching in the PZT c eramic with the composition near the morphotropic phase boundary is pr edominantly controlled by the two successive 90 degrees domain process es rather than only the 180 degrees domain reversal process. Experimen tal results also indicate that the coercive field of ferroelectric cer amics is related to the cooperative deformation associated with each g rain. This cooperative deformation arises from 90 degrees- domain reve rsal process.